This may seem like a stupid question but, is there any evidence that having a gas tank in the cab resulted in a safety issue during the time this was acceptable practice? I can't find any evidence of an issue when searching online. I tend to question things that are accepted without evidence. If you think about it, the tank is protected by the cab. The cab has to be penitrated pretty deeply in order to even touch the tank. I lived during the 50s and 60s and there was never any out cry concerning the safety of this practice. It's not like safety was not a concern back then. Has anyone found any evidence of an unsafe condition in terms of statistics?
Yup, I'm with you on this. It is a safe place to put the gas in my opinion. Search this cause there was a discussion last week on this, too.
Anything can be proven with statistics. If I'm trapped in my ride after a wreck I want the gas tank to be as far away from me as possible.
They were in the cab for nearly 50 years. Not a huge deal, unless you have a seal leak or line leak, of course.
As far as "evidence" i'm not sure, but relocating it eliminates a few rare dangers such as fumes or actual leaks in the cabin. It makes sense to put a few layers of steel between the passengers and fuel tank. Dont know if this answers anything...
I've tried many times to ignite gas with a cigarette.... never works. but it sure does freak people out
On it's face, yes, it could be a safe place. The cab would need to be penetrated rather deeply to puncture the tank. However, keep thinking. What happens if it is penetrated, or worse yet, you're trapped. Raw fuel is spilling ON YOU. Then YOU are on fire, not just the truck. That has to be the worst feeling in the world, because you probably have a second or two of shear terror knowing how fucked you are before you go up like the dude from the Du Hast video. However, if the tank is nestled between the frame rails for instance, there may not be as much protection to the tank per se, but the cab still protects you personally. The tank can catch fire outside the car and you have egress from either side, or the windshield if you kick hard enough. I'd rather have the tank outside the cab any day
Here's a link related to pickups - http://www.langdonemison.com/CM/Articles/Defective_Fuel_Systems.pdf Besides moving the tank,or fuel cell style ... the ultimate solution would be to change the fuel - namely diesel but why would I wanna do that?
I think we all thought about gas tank safety along the line. The '66 truck I drive has the tank in the cab (Chevy) & I owned a '72 at one time that was the same. Ironically, my '47 had the tank between the frame rails, behind the cab, in front of the rear, which I personally think this is the safest. Would you think that a gas tank behind the rear or outside the frame rails (saddle bag type) is safer? I would think that these positions would be more vulnerable to rupture, but the resultant potential fire would be outside. It's a mixed bag & I think there is no real right or wrong.
I couldn't say it better. I just moved my Tudor "A" tank from cowl to the back with a rear firewall just in case.
Dunno...but I can say that every truck I've owned with a cab tank had fume issues, & some of them weren't very old at the time. Personally I feel happier with it elsewhere...so I guess that's why my '55 has it in a nice, safe place immediately beneath my ass! Well, under the floorboard in the original location, that is.
on the Chevy trucks from the mid 50s to early 70s, the only place it seems to fit besides in the cab, is at the back, under the bed, between the frame rails...which is a kind of vulnerable place too. I leave them in cab and fix the leaks (filler and sender)
My tank is in the frame, behind the cab, and in front of the axle. But.. it also extends under the driver's seat. It is protected by the left side frame rail. It still freaks me out a little, but I like it there rather than behind the rear axle. I'd NEVER put it in the passenger space. There must be a reason no mfg does it now, eh? More Pinto-esque, what about all the bobbers and modifieds with the tank out back? Sure, it looks cool, but... might as well paint a bull's eye on it. But where else will it fit on a car that small? Put it at your own personal intersection of the lines of safety, coolness and practicality. Later, Gary
I had kicked around the idea of putting the tank behind the seat in my 32 Roadster...to save space in the trunk. But it's not like I'm going to be hauling all my belongings anywhere in the trunk, so I decided to mount it in the trunk, behind the seat. Fumes, sloshing noises, safety, etc., not to mention that I can use the room behind the seat to store more junk...
Yeah, you can I should have mentioned that (I did think of it). Have you found a good panel/suburban tank recently? are they repopping them?
"Saddle" tanks are quite vulnerable to side impacts, hence the class-action lawsuit brought against GM about 20 years ago. Now that I think about it, I don't recall seeing the aftermarket saddle tanks advertised for the Model 'A's, either.
I've thought about this before with my '57. Seems there's really only 3 good places to have one - in the cab, in the bed, or under the bed back inside the back bumper. Mine is still in the cab. I intend on occasionally hauling schtuff, so the bed option is out. I think the ones behind the rear bumper are almost as bad/vulnerable in the event of a rear ender. I have thought of enclosing mine in the cab, using vents to relieve trapped gasses to further enhance safety. I've also considered a fuel cell in the cab too and it too would be enclosed. A good topic for discussion.
The way i see it is back when tanks where there, traffic wasnt! And neither was the high speeds. Think safe!
Not the exact tanks, no. But look at all the other tanks that will fit in the same position as the factory suburban tank. Alot of the small pickup tanks, s-10 and ranger, will fit between the bed side and frame. Most of those small pickup tanks you can get at the scrapers for 20-30 bucks, with the sending units.
I'm using the stock tank under the seat. Never hear any sloshing, never smell any fumes, and it leaves room behind the axle for an under bed spare tire mount. If someone hits me hard enough to puncture the tank under my butt, I'm already dead.
Out back is WAY safer, just ask any pinto owner. My '64 chevy short fleet has a tank between the axle and rear bumper. Real nice install by a PO. Problem is there is no practical way to fill it. You can put the filler in the floor of the box but that looks stupid or you can weld in a fuel door in the side of the box, better but still sucks. A step side can have it on the back of a fender, that aint too bad. Mine is behind the tail light. Sounds feasible but doesn't fill worth a damn. Simple solution for me, I'm putting the tank back behind the seat where it belongs like the GM engineers intended. Could I burn up in an accident?? maybe but statistically, I think I'm safer than those pinto drivers and I'm not the type to run out for a flu shot because I heard on the news that a chicken in Taiwan caught the flu and fell over. Besides, IIRC at the beginning of "men in black" a space ship crashes through an early '60's chev truck and slices that sucker in half right behind the cab and the the tank didn't explode so that's good enough for me. To each his own.
Quit smoking 8-9 years ago now, so no worries there. I read about someone using a 30's chevy tank reproduction tank and it doesn't hang to low like the blazer tank. I think I'll keep mine in the cab if for no other reason than to keep worry warts out. No offense..just poken fun. I just have this feeling that people are a little too safe now. I mean; I know people that kind if freak out about smelling exhaust from the GTO. One of my favorite smells as a kid was the mixture of leaded gas fumes and my dads unfiltered camel mixed together as he was gassing up the car. He's 76 now, still hangin in...
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